A man who survived a fireball crash in which three young people died faces months of recovery in hospital.

A man who survived a fireball crash in which three young people died faces months of recovery in hospital.

The man, 26, of Gateshead, who has not been named by police, was pulled from the burning wreckage on July 28, with his clothes on fire.

Local residents, who were woken by the sound of the car smashing into a tree, then bursting into flames, rushed from their homes.

Several people dragged the survivor from the vehicle and rolled him on the ground to put out the flames.

He was taken to hospital with bone injuries and burns and remained in a critical condition for days before showing signs of improvement. Now he faces a long battle for recovery.

Police, investigating the tragedy in Shields Road, Bill Quay, Gateshead, say he is continuing to improve and is making good progress.

He is in the burns unit at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary and is expected to be in hospital for another three months.

The injured man holds the key to how the crash happened and police are anxious to speak to him.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "He is aware of the deaths of his friends and we will speak to him as soon as the doctors and his family think the time is right."

The crash devastated the Leam Lane community in Gateshead where the victims lived.

Scott Castlehow, 20, of Longrigg, Laura Howson, 19, of Kellsway, and Susan Lee, 23, of Lecondale, all Gateshead, died when Mr Castlehow's Seat Cordoba hit the tree in the early hours. No other vehicles were involved.

All three died at the scene of the crash, which happened outside the Stonehills business complex.

An inquest has opened and adjourned into the deaths.

Gateshead Coroner Terence Carney heard that all three died from multiple injuries and were identified by their dental records.